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Torn between overwhelming relief and exasperated rage, Alinor managed not to say a word. She quietly went and lit the candles that stood near each chair. |
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The voices blended, again identical in their placatory tone. Alinor bit her lip. |
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She could not castigate her man. He was caught between the upper and the nether millstone. He dared not disobey either one of them. Fortunately it was a rare occasion when the orders he received from his lady and his new lord would be as diametrically opposed as they had been this day. Alinor did not turn to Ian until Beorn's soft steps had faded completely. When she did look at him, his eyes were closed and even the golden light of the candles could lend no warmth to his gray pallor. |
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"Such stupidity," he sighed. "Like a careless child, I stepped on a stone and wrenched my knee. You would not believe so little a thing could cause such pain." |
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"Almost a week ago. The day your messenger came to tell me William of Pembroke was come." |
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"Why did you not send the messenger back? I would have come to you. Or I would have sent a litter so you could be carried home. Really, Ian" |
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"Alinor, be still! I hurt. I do not wish to argue with you about what I could have or should have done. For the one thing, how could I send for you when the rest of our guests might arrive at any moment? That I should be absent was bad enough. That we should both be lacking would be too much discourtesy. For the second, to speak the truth, I could not endure the thought of being moved at first. I suppose I should have sent to tell you what had happened to me, but I felt such a fool!" |
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Impulsively, Alinor bent forward and kissed him. |
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